Capital One Venture Card vs. Citi Double Cash Card [Detailed Comparison]

No matter how many rewards-earning credit cards you have in your wallet, having a go-to card that earns double rewards on every purchase you make can deliver tremendous value.

Knowing you’re earning 2x rewards or cash-back every time you use your card also simplifies the process. No need to keep track of bonus categories or complicated rewards-earning structures, just pay and reap the resulting rewards.

Today we’ve chosen 2 popular fixed-rate reward cards that fall perfectly into the category of simplified earning. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Citi^® Double Cash Card are examples of everyday spending cards with unlimited earnings that you’ll want to have in your wallet.

We’ll look at how the cards earn rewards, your redemption options, and talk about any benefits that come complimentary on the cards.

If you’re looking for an everyday spending card, you’ll want to read on.

Capital One Venture Card vs. Double Cash Card — Overview

Comparing cards by individual category provides useful information, but a side-by-side comparison can help bring it all together.

Here’s how our featured cards stack up when we look at the cumulation of features and benefits:

The Value of a Welcome Bonus

Capital One Venture Card

Double Cash Card

Most rewards cards offer a welcome bonus you can earn, normally in the first months of card ownership. You must meet minimum spending requirements during this stated period of time but then reap the rewards of jumpstarting your rewards stash.

The Capital One Venture card offers a generous welcome bonus for meeting spending requirements within the first 3 months after card approval. Though we value Capital One miles at around 1.8 cents each, they can be worth much more when transferred to travel partners.

The Double Cash card usually offers a small welcome bonus.

Earning Rewards

We mentioned earlier that you’ll be earning double rewards on every purchase you make with our featured cards. If you prefer a card with a simple earning structure, either of these cards could fit that requirement.

And, while earning levels may seem similar, how you redeem your rewards will ultimately determine which option delivers better value for you. We’ll talk more about redemption options shortly that might help you decide whether earning miles or cash-back is the better option for you.

Here’s how you can expect to earn unlimited rewards on either of our 2 featured cards:

Bottom Line: You’ll enjoy simplified earnings of either 2x Capital One miles per dollar spent or 2% cash-back per $1 spent on the Double Cash card. Both cards offer unlimited rewards earning with no cap. The better card for you, however, will depend on whether you prefer miles to cash and how you choose to redeem your rewards. 

Redeeming Rewards

We’ve learned how you’ll earn rewards on the Capital One Venture card and the Double Cash card, but the real excitement starts when you redeem your rewards.

Let’s look at the options you’ll have at redemption time:

Bottom Line: Both of our featured cards earn rewards that can be redeemed for travel or statement credits. However, the rewards from the Double Cash card can also be converted to cash-back. 

Travel Benefits and Protections

Capital One Venture Card

While the Double Cash card doesn’t offer travel benefits or protections, the Capital One Venture card offers several useful benefits and coverages.

Here’s a summary of what you can expect on the Capital One Venture card:

• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Fee Reimbursement — Pay the fee with your card and receive up to $100 in reimbursement for either fee.
• Capital One Lounge and Plaza Premium Lounge Access — Receive 2 free one-time passes annually; additional visits are $45 each.
• Luxury Hotel Collection Benefits — Book your room directly through the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection and receive a complimentary room upgrade (when available), daily breakfast for 2, $25 in food and beverage credits, late checkout, free Wi-Fi, and a best rate guarantee.
• Car Rental Insurance — Pay for the entire rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage and receive secondary coverage for theft or damage. Secondary coverage means that you must first file a claim with other applicable insurance.
• Lost Baggage — Pay for your trip with your card and receive up to $3,000 for lost baggage, per trip ($2,000 for NY residents).
• Roadside Assistance — You’ll be charged just 1 low fee for each service call that includes limited towing, tire-changing, emergency fuel, lockout service, and jump-starting.
• Travel Accident Insurance — When you pay for your trip with your card, you could receive up to $250,000 for accidental death or dismemberment. Terms apply.
• Travel and Emergency Assistance — Regardless of when you need assistance while traveling, you’ll have 1 number to call 24/7. Receive legal or medical referrals, help to get emergency cash, translation referral services, and more. Cardholders are responsible for actual services received.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Foreign transaction fees can be as much as 3%. Fortunately, the Capital One Venture card does not charge these fees.
• Gravity Haus Benefits — Cardholders receive a $300 discount toward a membership. This entitles you to discounted hotel stays near top ski resorts, exclusive events, and discounts on your ski or snowboarding gear. This partnership will last through January 19, 2024.

Bottom Line: When we look at travel benefits and protections, the Capital One Venture card comes out far ahead of the Double Cash card which offers none of these benefits. 

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Some card issuers have removed key shopping benefits and protections, but you’ll still find select coverages for eligible items purchased with your Capital One Venture card.

Here’s how our featured cards compare:

Bottom Line: While the Double Cash card offers little in the form of shopping benefits and no product protection coverages, the Capital One Venture card charges no foreign transaction fees and offers extended warranty and purchase protection on eligible items purchased with the card. 

Additional Benefits

If you have high-interest credit card balances, the Double Cash card could save you money with its introductory 0% APR on balance transfers for an 18-month period after card approval.

Balances that are transferred within the first 4 months after account opening are eligible for an introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater. After that, the balance transfer fee is 5% or $5, whichever is greater.

There are no interest charges for the 18-month period; after that, regular APR, as shown in the table at the beginning of this article, will apply.

Minimum Qualifications

Capital One recommends an excellent credit score to qualify for the Capital One Venture card. While an excellent credit score is generally one that is 740 or more, Capital One clarifies the requirements further by stating that an applicant must “never have declared bankruptcy or defaulted on a loan, not been 60 days late on a credit card, loan, or medical bill, and has had a loan or credit card for $5,000 or more in the past 3 years.” Meeting these criteria could enable you to be approved with a 700 or more credit score.

A minimum of a good credit score is recommended for the Double Cash card. One of the leading credit bureaus, Experian, defines a good credit score as one that is 700 or above.

Credit card issuers may look at other factors including debt-to-income ratios and the number of cards you have opened, so these numbers are only guidelines. The good news is that there is a way you can find out in advance if you have card offers waiting.

The CardMatch tool is a risk-free option to find existing card offers without having to complete an application and have your credit history accessed with a hard credit pull. Preapproved or prequalified offers will be displayed after submitting minimal information. These offers do not guarantee approval but help you zero in on the cards for which you’re most likely to be approved.

Learn more about how to find preapproved or prequalified offers in our article on the topic.

Alternative Cards

If you want to avoid a high annual fee but still earn well on everyday purchases, there are dozens of card options. Here are a few cards, similar to our featured cards, that offer earnings on every purchase you make plus provide introductory 0% APR periods that can save you money on interest charges:

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One VentureOne card offers unlimited flat-rate rewards earning but without an annual fee.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

If your everyday spending includes purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, transit, and streaming services, you’ll earn well with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

We like the Freedom Unlimited card for everyday spending because it earns flexible, and therefore valuable, Ultimate Rewards points.

Points earned on the card have several redemption options but realize the true value when transferred to Chase premium cards. When transferring points to the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® you can receive up to 50% more value when redeemed for travel via the Chase travel portal.

Hot Tip: If you have a large purchase or purchases coming up, selecting a card with an introductory 0% APR period on purchases can save you money on interest charges while you repay the purchase over time. In addition, some cards like the Double Cash card have introductory 0% APR periods for balance transfers that allow you to transfer high-interest credit card balances and repay over time without interest. Additional terms and fees can apply. 

Final Thoughts

It’s clear that the Capital One Venture card offers a better overall package compared to the Double Cash card. However, you can’t dismiss the strong 2x earning on every purchase you make with the Double Cash card.

Paired with a travel rewards card offering travel and shopping benefits, the Double Cash card could still find a useful slot in your wallet to ensure you’re earning at least 2x points on all purchases, regardless of category.

If you’re a frequent traveler and must pick 1 card from our featured cards, however, the Capital One Venture card could be the better fit. You’ll enjoy strong earnings, good-value travel redemption options, and useful travel and shopping benefits and protections.

The information regarding the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, click here.